Prayer | TFRC | The Faith Resource Community

5/24/24 Circumstances

Few of us really understand how much circumstances rule our lives. Most of us men react to circumstances in the same way we did before we came to the Lord. We analyze the situation, check on the options, and then make the decision that seems best based on the known criteria. Few of us really understand how far that is from the way the Lord desires us to act.

Our Lord functions in the supernatural. His purposes are far from our way of thinking. As we are making decisions which seem best based on what we know, what if the Lord is using the circumstances to train us or those around us? What if He is not looking for the logical decision because He knows more about the ultimate result than we do? What if He wants you to do the illogical, even foolish, so your faith in Him can grow?

Often I have made a decision that seemed like a step of faith, thinking I was obedient to the Lord’s wishes, only to find myself in a boxed canyon with no way out. I had prayed, sought counsel and then moved, thinking that things would work out perfectly. When they didn’t, I thought I had missed God. God, on the other hand, had me just where He wanted me. I needed Him because I found myself with no answers. The circumstance had nothing to do with success or failure, but it had to do with my training. It had to do with the need for me to be out of answers and surrendering myself to Him - a much deeper work than I thought was being done.

Men, we are in training to hear God and move only where and when He desires to move. Our bottom line is answers. His bottom line is to make us more like Jesus, doing nothing of ourselves and trusting Him in all things. Will you trust Him wherever He leads?

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

5/23/24 The Bondage of Unforgiveness

“As We are becoming closer, there are several necessary steps you must take so that you might move more freely with Me. To begin with, I want you to make a list of everyone who has offended you or caused you harm to the point where you cannot let it go, or who is still controlling your emotions in any way by their former or present actions. I want you to tell Me everyone against whom you are holding a grudge or have any unforgiveness for in your heart. You are sinning against Me by holding their offenses against them.

"Present your sin to Me. You need to forgive them. I will hold you close as you do this, so do not be afraid. Next, in your time, we will deal with them. As you bring them to Me, I will heal your wounds and place forgiveness in your heart toward the offender. This could take time, so allow Me to give you power to make every presentation. Hold on to My love and have no fear. What has held you in bondage for so long will finally be removed. You will be set free.

"Here is something that you need to know. Unforgiveness is bondage. You are the one who is held immobilized when you hold anything against another. You may think that you are in control of the other person when you hold his offense against him, but the reverse is always true. You live daily with what he may have forgotten long ago, so you are the only one affected by your dark heart. Determine to forgive now. It is one of the first steps to freedom and it releases My power to work through you.”

Matthew 6:14-15 NIV

14) “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

15) But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

Some of the most miserable people I have ever seen are those who will not forgive offenses. Look at the nations, the countries, and the rivalries of the world. Forgiveness, even from one of the parties, would end confrontations.

Few of us realize that we are the only ones hurt when we hold any offense against the offender. A person full of unforgiveness is often difficult to be with, needs to be in control; and is more than likely overly-sensitive in other areas. His life gets out of order until the sin is dealt with. It is the “one sin judging another sin” foolishness that brings us difficulties and separates us from God. Our sin can even make us sick.

Someone once said, “Forgiveness is the ardent desire to bear the consequences of another person’s sin.” Jesus’ death and resurrection was the epitome of forgiveness. Even from the cross, He loved. When He forgave, He overcame.

If we look at unforgiveness as sin—a sin that is covered by the cross—we can deal with it just like any other sin, and go to God for His forgiveness. Then we will be set free.

Make my list for me, Lord; and show me if I am sinning against another,

Jim Corbett

5/23/24 The Purposes of Challenges

As part of His covenant with us, God has promised to give us every opportunity to become like Jesus. He allows us to go through challenges and devises means for us to come to the end of ourselves. He guides and directs our responses to those challenges as barometers of our progress toward holiness.

Let’s talk facts. Although this life is not about us, this life we live has great importance in God’s eyes. His whole plan is the perfecting of those who will be spending eternity with Him. As we focus on Jesus, God is focusing on us to make us into His image. He is orchestrating opportunities for us to make decisions. Those decisions become more and more like the decisions that Jesus, in His holiness, would make as we submit to God’s hand. Without opportunities to come to the end of ourselves and turn to God for help, we would never experience our Father’s keeping power over us. Our need imparts God’s wealth to us as we surrender.

As men after the Savior’s heart, we understand that challenges are only spiritual opportunities to grow in Christ. As those who do want to become like Jesus, we have learned to embrace any and all challenges that come our way as acts of love, not as reprimands. In doing so, we release the power of the Holy Spirit to move in concert with God’s plan for our lives as we grow closer to Him from challenge to challenge. Will you pay the price?

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

5/22/24 Redeem the Time

“Do not fear tomorrow. I understand that you are recognizing the times and seasons in which you live. Your world is volatile. Your life could and sometimes will change in a matter of moments. Instead of fearing all the possibilities that may come your way, I want you to redeem the time. Allow the wisdom that I have given you to drive you to an understanding of the importance of each moment. As soon as tomorrow, you and I could be face to face. What will you hold in your hands for Jesus? You have every opportunity right now to gain crowns to present to Him then. What are you doing about it? Come to Me. Spend time with Me to gain the proper heart for your next actions. Then go forth in My power. I am waiting.”

Isaiah 8:11-14 AMP

11) For the Lord spoke thus to me with His strong hand [upon me], and warned and instructed me not to walk in the way of this people, saying,

12) Do not call conspiracy [or hard, or holy] all that this people will call conspiracy [or hard, or holy]; neither be in fear of what they fear, nor [make others afraid and] in dread.

13) The Lord of hosts – regard Him as holy and honor His holy name [by regarding Him as your only hope of safety], and let Him be your fear and let Him be your dread [lest you offend Him by your fear of man and distrust of Him].

14) And He shall be a sanctuary [a sacred and indestructible asylum to those who reverently fear and trust in Him]; but He shall be a Stone of stumbling and a Rock of offense to both the houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem.

Matt. 25:1-6 NIV

1) “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.

2) Five of them were foolish and five were wise.

3) The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them.

4) The wise, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.

5) The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.

6) At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’”

The tomorrows that we should be conscious of are those days in which our time might not be spent in pleasing the Lord. We need to consider the ways in which we might be more prepared to have what is needed spiritually to overcome the difficult situations that might be presented to us.

Are we ready to love those who hate us? Are we ready to stand when others run in fear? Will we glorify the Lord when it may cost us our lives? These are very real possibilities for the future of our land. Maybe a revisiting of our priorities might be in order while there is still time to do something about them.

Prepare my heart, Lord,

Jim Corbett

5/22/24 The Image of the Father

Jesus is the image of His Father. Even though He walked on this earth as a man, He was the perfect spiritual imprint of Who His Father is. His Spirit is alive with the wealth of all that His Father is by the power of the Holy Spirit.

As spiritual men, men with the same Holy Spirit dwelling in us that lives in Jesus, you and I are to pattern our lives after His. We are to walk and conduct ourselves in the same way that He walked and conducted Himself. His pattern of doing nothing of Himself and relying totally on the Father should be our course in life. His desire to commune with His Father as the priority of His days should be a craving of our hearts. As we go to God in prayer, a primary petition should be to ask Him to make us like Jesus.

Because your offices of husband and father are spiritual in nature and ordained by God, the spiritual patterns you set are very important. As you imitate the patterns of Jesus’ life, you give impressions about His life to those who are watching you. They see who He is when you represent His life properly.

Jesus showed us the Father. Now we are to show others who Jesus and His Father are through our lives. What do They look like to those who are watching you?

Let’s talk more!

Jim Corbett

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